The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-02
THE NATURAL GAS OUTLOOK.
The Municipal Legislation Expected To-
Night by the Pipeline Companies.
The Standard Oil Company Disposed To Be
Secretive About the Franchise 1t Will Ask
for-Prof. Cox's Views on Natural Gas.


The burning gas at the Briehtwood we'll at
tracted hundreds of visitors from the city yes
terday AS a local curiosity it had the prefer
ence OF the days amusemeEts. but it apparently
had ceased to be of interest TO the stockholders
and directors Of the company. as very few of the
former and none of the latter were there. The
fame was about foot high. and burned with
the power one sees in large street gas lamp of
four or Eve burners UnscientiRc speculation
was rife in regard to possibilities, and every
body told all he had heard or read about
weak flows that afterwards grew in immense
volume, and hopes of this tendency have caused
the company to determine 10 lay the pipe and
use the gas il it develops sufficient volume. The
flow has strengthened the belief that not far
away can be found reservoir that will con-
tribute largely to the needs OF the city.
Mr.. Patch. OF the McGuffey syndicate, is some
what skeptical as TO very large supplies of gas
being found nearer indianapolis than the Hamil-
ton-county folds. but his faith in them is
bounded. Yet, witbal. his company is supposed
to have leases in Lawrence township,
which the Capital City people to conduct
their future prospecting. The McGuffev sy ndi-
cate, however own considerable gas territory in
Hamilton county. from which it is proposed to
draw the supply for the pipe lines the company
will lay if it gets the franchise. Its ordinance
has been prepared and will be introduced in
Council tonight. asking for street priv
ileges. For all damages that may
crue the company will agree TO give
bond, which will secure further guarantee to
repair the streets after the pines laid. 1t is
understood that the McGuffey company will
agree no restrictions that relate to the policy
IF cba will tn
the city tolls for each stove or furnace. There
is some doubt too in regard to meter measure
ment, but it will consent to supply free all the
gas the city may need for its own use. A toll
system, the representatives of the company say,
will be burden to the people, who will in the
end pay the sum charged. It will ask for
exclusive privilege. in this agreeing with the
Standard Oil Company, whose ordinance will
also be introduced tonight What
it is to contain. beyond the open
feature that will permit competition has not
reached the public. The gentlemen who have
the ordinance in hand secretive as to its de-
tails, much so that they have not consulted
or mentioned the matter to city officers coun-
cilmen. The city attorney, even, has not been
admitted to a knowledge of what will be asked.
Like the McGuffey company. the Standard Oil
corporation will resist any restrictive measure
beyond what may relate to the laying of pipes
aud restoring the streets.
Councilmen to be at loss what to do
All express willingness to accord both com
panies privileges, but they want it done with
qualifications. They say the city has had a dear
experience with corporations, and that in this
matter they intend to go slowly. It is ever sug-
gested that before any ordinance is passed
committee Of examination should visit cities
where gas is used as q fuel and gather
all the information chat can be
had. It is possible that all ordir ances may
lead TO the revival of the passed by the
Council some months ago, and which is pending
Ss. . ha ar1 Af Jc 1ad hat
the Council has already acted it is only neces
sary for the Aldermen to take the ordinance
from the committee and either pass it as it is
amend it so as to suit the present situation. It
is almost an exact copy of measure passed
by the Council of Allegheny City. Under
this ordinance one OF the conditions
is that to the city engineer and committee
gas shall be submitted plat OF the streets to be
used in laying pipes, and that they may refuse
mentioned in the plat. The corporation. though.
has the right of appeal to Council. Another is
that in case the work of laying pipes is in the
opinion of the city engineer. unnecessarily de-
layed, the corporation violates any of the
conditions OF the ordinance, the engineer can
order all, laying Of pipes 70 be discontinued
employs unskiiful and Incompetent men
to do the work. In such cases
the or gineer can continue the work, for which
the corporation must advance the money, under
the penalty of having the entire work suspended.
No highway sbsll be opened and worked upon
for the purpose of laying pines for carrying nat
LIST of April. The committee natural gas and
the city engineer shall not grant the right
TO any corporation to open any highway
for nstural-Ras pipes until the corporation
shall have laid line to the city limits.
nor shall they have power to allow more thar
three competing pipeline companies to lay their
pipes upon any street, lane or alley, nor to allow
any corporation TO lay more than one pipe line
in any street or alley, but the Council may. by
special ordinance. do otherwise in any particular
case. Any corporation availing itself of rights
under this ordinance must pay to the city
nualy cents for each foot of pipe laid
by IL. The ordinance also establishes a
schedule of prices to be charged by
the pipeline corporation In Allegheny
City these charges For transportation
companies, three cents per Thousand feet. ire
spective of distance for manufactures the net
cost of coal. at the rate per ton at which coal is
may be furnished to similar manufactures;
for private houses, ranges and cooking stoves.
81 so per month; CRATES and stoves for heat 81
per month from Oct. l to May /; furnaces. 81
per month for the first register aud IS cents for
each additional register for the same period
allowed for CRATES stoves. The other
quirements relate to repairing streets and the
giving OF bond to guarantee that it is DONE